An Asian individual died in a fire at Joe’s Kahana Resort & Restaurant in Halaleva on Sunday afternoon, marking the first fatality caused by fire in the area.
Sinamoni Kauvaka, Deputy Fire Commissioner, told Tonga Broadcasting today that the cause of the fire is still unknown.
The Tonga Fire Serves rushed to the location but the fire had engulfed most of the building. Kavaka said that approximately 80 percent of the building was damaged by the fire, with the kitchen completely destroyed.
Kauvaka mentioned that they also received support from the Tonga National Disaster Risk Management Office during the incident.
The resort is owned by Mr. Ming Sen Tsai.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.